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Library Regulations and Policies

Regulations

Library Regulations

The aim of these regulations is to ensure that a suitable study and learning environment is maintained throughout the library for all users. They require all users to take responsibility for their own behaviour and give due consideration to the needs of other library users.

Library Membership

Library membership is conferred automatically on all registered students and University staff. External membership is available at the discretion of the Director of Library Services.

If requested by a member of the library staff, users must show their current University Identity Card (staff and students) or Library Membership Card (others) at any time in the Library. These cards must also be shown at the Issue Desk by users wishing to borrow any library material. It is a breach of library regulations to allow another person to use one's Identity Card or Membership Card in connection with any use of the Library, or to use another person's card. Breaches may be referred to the Disciplinary Committee, and the Library may retain cards for collection by their owners.

Behaviour in the Library

Mobile phones must be set to silent mode in the Library. Calls can only be made or received on the ground floor of the library and conducted in a manner that does not disturb others. All other areas are designated quiet zones and as such, users must refrain from making or receiving calls in these areas.

Users must behave in an appropriate manner in the library. Noise should be kept to a minimum throughout the library, and a rule of silence is to be strictly observed in designated quiet study areas on the first and second floors.

Users must not cause any disturbance that is likely to distract or inconvenience others.

Users must not reserve reading/study places by leaving their belongings on tables of desks.

Smoking is not allowed in the Library. This includes the use of e-cigarettes. Breaches of this regulation will be referred directly to the University Disciplinary Committee.

Food cannot be consumed in the library. Water in non-spill bottles is permitted throughout the library. Hot or cold drinks (containers must have tops or lids) may be consumed on the ground floor only (except at workstations in the Information Commons).

Library stock, equipment and fittings must not be damaged, defaced, removed without authorisation, concealed or otherwise interfered with. Any such damage, removal, concealment, interference or loss of any Library item must be reported to the Library immediately. The user responsible may be required to make good any consequent temporary or permanent loss or damage.

Borrowing

No materials may be removed from the library without having been borrowed using the library's express service point or Issue Desk service.

All items on loan are subject to recall at any time by the library.

Library items may normally be borrowed in accordance with the appropriate procedures. Certain items, however, are either confined permanently to the library, or are available only on a restricted basis.

These regulations are the minimum consistent with the proper operation of library services for all members. Users who do not abide by the library regulations will be liable to a range of penalties including fines, referral to the Disciplinary Committee and/or withdrawal of library services

Updated: September 2014

Mobile Phones

Mobile phones must be set to silent mode in the Library. Calls can only be made or received on the ground floor of the library and conducted in a manner that does not disturb others. All other areas are designated quiet zones and as such, users must refrain from making or receiving calls in these areas.

Before entering the Library please ensure:

Ring tones are switched off

Key tones are switched off

Text message indicators are switched off

Vibrating tones are switched off

If the policy is breached, the following sanction will be imposed:

First breach - a note of this offence will be kept on file

Second and subsequent breach: - €6 fine will be imposed, and borrowing rights will be suspended until the fine is cleared in full.

Children

Library policy on children accompanying DCU registered library users

The Library recognises that DCU students and staff with children may need to bring their children to the library on rare occasions. Whilst the Library cannot facilitate children in general, it endeavours to offer the following support to these parents:

Children accompanying library users will be permitted into the Library for a short period only which would allow library users:

to return material, pay fines, collect a reserved item

to retrieve a book from the shelves

to avail of the photocopying service on the ground floor

to seek advice a the Library's Information Desk

During their brief visit to the Library, children must be fully supervised at all times by parents/guardians.

Parents/guardians are fully responsible for their child's health and safety while in the Library.

Children may not avail of the computers in the Library.

Users must be aware that the Library is for study and learning purposes and should leave the Library if a child's behaviour causes a disturbance to others.

Please note that because of restrictions imposed by the library's design, it may not be possible to allow access for some types of children's buggies or prams.

Groups of school children are occasionally invited to the St. Patrick's library, they will always be supervised by teachers or responsible adults, and visits are strictly by invitation only.

The Library welcomes the donation of books, journals and other library material that reflects the teaching, learning and research goals of the university. Donated material will be assessed according to similar criteria as those governing the acquisition of new material for the Library.

Conditions of Acceptance

The Library prefers to discuss donations with all potential donors in the first instance. Donated material may only be delivered to the library following discussion and agreement with the relevant Subject Librarian. The Library's Subject Librarians are responsible for the evaluation and selection of donations.

It is a condition of acceptance that the Library reserves the right to retain or dispose of any donated material.

In the case of large donations, the Library will request a listing of the items from which titles will be evaluated and selected in the first instance.

Acceptance Guidelines

Material donated to the library should:

be relevant to the university's teaching, learning and research needs

be in acceptable physical condition

be current (i.e. have recent publication date), unless material is of historical value

not duplicate material already available in the library. The only exception to this would be where additional copies of an item would meet a current demand.

Material not accepted will include:

old editions of textbooks

journals available electronically via the Library, however in the case of rare or unique material exceptions may be made

short/incomplete journal runs, however in the case of rare or unique material exceptions may be made

The Library would welcome donations from academic staff of copies of publications authored or edited by them.